Leadership with a Global Vision
The leadership at the Global Institute of Public Health (GIPH) represents a unique blend of experience, academic excellence, and visionary thinking. The institute is led by Padma Shree Prof. Dr. A. Marthanda Pillai, Prof. (Dr.) S. S. Lal, and Prof. (Dr.) K. R. Nayar — distinguished experts who bring decades of national and international experience in medicine, public health, policy, and research.
Collectively, they embody the spirit of GIPH, combining clinical precision with public health insight, and scientific rigor with ethical responsibility. Under their leadership, GIPH has evolved into a vibrant platform where global perspectives meet local realities, creating meaningful solutions for health systems in India and beyond.
Their diverse expertise ensures that students and scholars at GIPH are mentored by some of the most respected minds in public health. Together, they inspire a generation of professionals equipped not just with knowledge, but with the vision and values to lead change across communities.
About the Founder
Padma Shree Prof. Dr. A. Marthanda Pillai
The Global Institute of Public Health (GIPH) was founded under the leadership and vision of Padma Shree Prof. Dr. A. Marthanda Pillai, a pioneering neurosurgeon, educator, and public health advocate. Recognized across India for his outstanding contribution to healthcare, Dr. Pillai envisioned GIPH as an institution that brings together medical science, research, and social responsibility under one roof.
His dream was to create a platform where future public health professionals could learn, innovate, and engage with the most pressing health issues of our time — both within India and globally.
As the Chairman and Director of GIPH, Dr. Pillai’s leadership is defined by integrity, inclusivity, and a lifelong commitment to academic excellence. His illustrious career includes serving as the National President of the Indian Medical Association (2014–15), Director and Professor of Neurosurgery at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, and Head of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, New Delhi.
Recipient of the Padma Shree, one of India’s highest civilian honours, Dr. Pillai continues to guide GIPH with the same dedication that has marked his remarkable journey — a journey built on the belief that ethical education and collaborative science are the foundation of a healthier world.